COVENTRY’S problems have multiplied ahead of tonight’s trip to Swindon – with the Pawlicki brothers again making themselves unavailable.

And frustrated boss Alun Rossiter has now requested a 28-day facility to cover their absence, as they are deemed to be withholding their services.

The re-arranged Polish Final was already set to take both riders out of the home and away clashes with Eastbourne tomorrow and Saturday, and, although not ideal, the Buildbase Bees would have been allowed to use the guest facility to replace them.

But tonight there would have been no such option, and Rossiter feels the club have been let down by two riders who are undoubtedly major rising talents in the sport – the older brother, Przemyslaw, having played a big part in the success of last season – but who are, in his view, often badly advised.

Rossiter said: “It’s a great shame we have to take this action because they are two great lads, but we simply can’t have this lack of commitment. It’s not fair to the club or the supporters.

“We’ve been told they are practising for the final, but there is no reason why they can’t be at Swindon on Thursday and then back in Poland the following morning. We are trying to reach the play-offs here, and it’s not acceptable.

“I had Krzysztof Kasprzak lined up to guest at Swindon before he was banned by his Polish club and he had no issue with coming over and racing for us, and I’d confirmed with Birmingham manager Graham Drury that we could use him, so there shouldn’t have been an issue with Poles on Thursday.

“I could just about accept Piotr missing against Peterborough on Monday as he did have a crash on Sunday and we had two meetings in a day which was a tough schedule, but what they forget is that there were English officials at that meeting who saw what was going on.

“I can only apologise to the supporters, because we have looked after the riders throughout and we don’t expect to be repaid in this way. We have no alternative but to request a 28-day facility for riders withholding their services.”

The Pawlicki problem comes at an inopportune time given that Emil Sayfutdinov is out injured and Bees are still attempting to cover for the suspended Edward Kennett.

And tonight’s meeting at Blunsdon is one they desperately need to win if they are to keep alive any hopes of making the play-offs.

Former skipper Chris Harris is lined up to make a guest appearance, and a welcome boost is the fact that Kenni Larsen has chosen to ride for Coventry rather than in a play-off fixture for his Swedish club Smederna, an act of loyalty which should be appreciated by management and supporters alike.

And the Bees will effectively turn back the clock to their recent golden era on Friday when both Harris and treble-winning captain Scott Nicholls guest in the home match against Eastbourne.

Nicholls is in the opposition ranks tonight with Swindon having endured a miserable season, and the patched-up Coventry side need to inflict a seventh home defeat of the campaign on the Elite League’s basement club.